Prepress Technicians & Workers

Print
Code: 51-5111.00

Description : Format and proof text and images submitted by designers and clients into finished pages that can be printed. Includes digital and photo typesetting. May produce printing plates.

JobTitles : Prepress Technician, Electronic Prepress Operator (EPP Operator), Plate Maker, Prepress Operator, Pre-Press Technician, Desktop Operator, Electronic Prepress Technician (EPP Tech), Plate Mounter, Pre-Press Proofer, Prepress Stripper

Tasks:
  • Enter, store, and retrieve information on computer-aided equipment.
  • Enter, position, and alter text size, using computers, to make up and arrange pages so that printed materials can be produced.
  • Maintain, adjust, and clean equipment, and perform minor repairs.
  • Operate and maintain laser plate-making equipment that converts electronic data to plates without the use of film.
  • Examine photographic images for obvious imperfections prior to plate making.
  • Operate presses to print proofs of plates, monitoring printing quality to ensure that it is adequate.
  • Monitor contact between cover glass and masks inside vacuum frames to prevent flaws resulting from overexposure or light reflection.
  • Transfer images from master plates to unexposed plates, and immerse plates in developing solutions to develop images.
  • Examine unexposed photographic plates to detect flaws or foreign particles prior to printing.
  • Lower vacuum frames onto plate-film assemblies, activate vacuums to establish contact between film and plates, and set timers to activate ultraviolet lights that expose plates.